Liquid fuel candle

ABSTRACT

Provided is a liquid fuel candle comprising a wax body with a hollowed core, a base defining a reservoir for storage of liquid fuel attached to one end of the wax body, an insulator attached to the other end of the wax body, and a wick threaded through the hollowed core and communicating at one end with the liquid fuel and at the other end with the insulator. The base may be formed and dimensioned to resemble a conventional candle holder, and since the liquid fuel is stored within the reservoir provided by the base, the wax body may be very slender and thin without compromising candle burn time. A diffuser ring may be associated with the insulator for evaporation and dispersion of scented oils. More than one wax body, wick and insulator may be associated with a single base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to candles, and in particular to reusableliquid fuel candles having a wax body that is not consumed during use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that the burning of conventional paraffin or other waxcandles involves the liquefaction, deformation and consumption of thecandle itself. The expectation of such deformation and consumption maymake it difficult to decide whether or not to light a conventional waxcandle, particularly in the case of expensive ornamental candles.Liquified wax also frequently runs down the sides of lit conventionalwax candles, thereby creating a mess, and potentially damaging furnitureor even constituting a fire hazard. It is, of course, also well knownthat conventional wax candles are normally secured on candle holders inorder to ameliorate these latter hazards and disadvantages (and in manycases also to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the candle), but itnevertheless remains that conventional paraffin or other wax candles aredeformed and consumed during use.

Liquid fuel candles that are fashioned to appear like conventional waxcandles while for the most part avoiding the principal drawback ofconventional wax candles (namely the consumption of the candle itselfduring use) are also known. Canadian Patent No. 2,125,118 to Maclea etal., entitled Reusable Candle, discloses a liquid fuel candle that has ahollowed core at one end for receiving an internal reservoir and wickstructure that is refillable with a liquid fuel. The body of the candle(that surrounds the internal reservoir) is made of wax so that theliquid fuel candle of Maclea may resemble a conventional wax candle, andso that it may be secured on a candle holder in the same way as would bea conventional wax candle.

Although liquid fuel candles of the kind disclosed by Maclea may addressthe deformation and consumption issues inherent to conventional waxcandles, it has been found that the placement of the liquid fuelreservoir within the core of such liquid fuel candles presents newdifficulties. In particular, the volumetric capacity of the internalfuel reservoir is necessarily limited relative to the size of suchcandles. This limits the burn time of a given prior-known liquid fuelcandle between refills, and also effectively precludes the creation ofparticularly slender liquid fuel candles of this sort. Additionally,refilling the fuel reservoir of a liquid fuel candle of the sortdisclosed by Maclea is messy and prone to spillage, and spilled liquidfuel may ruin the finish of the wax body of the candle or surroundingarticles.

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide areusable liquid fuel candle that looks like a conventional candle, butthat avoids the drawbacks of conventional wax candles and known liquidfuel candles discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a liquid fuel candle comprising a wax body having a hollowedcore, and a base releasably or permanently associated with the wax bodyat one end thereof. The base is formed and dimensioned to resemble aconventional candle holder, and defines a reservoir within which liquidfuel may be stored. A wick threaded through the hollowed core of the waxbody communicates at one end with the liquid fuel within the base, andprojects at its second end slightly beyond the top of the wax body,where it is situated within an insulator that prevents the wick fromcontacting the outer surface of the wax body. In some embodiments, theinsulator is embedded into the top of the wax body, but the insulatormay also simply be held in position atop the wax body by gravitationalforce or by other means.

The liquid fuel is drawn by capillary action into the wick, and theinsulator prevents the flame from liquefying or consuming the wax bodywhen the second end of the wick is lit. Since the liquid fuel is storedwithin the reservoir provided by the associated base (and not within thewax body as in prior known liquid fuel candles), the wax body may bevery slender and thin without compromising burn time. Overall burn timemay also be enhanced relative to prior-known liquid fuel candles as thereservoir within the base can readily be made quite large withoutcompromising the aesthetic qualities of the inventive liquid fuelcandle.

In embodiments of the invention where the wax body is permanentlyassociated with the base, the base preferably also includes are-sealable opening through which the reservoir may be safely re-filledwithout risking the spillage of liquid fuel over the wax body.

The insulator may preferably be constructed of a material having a highspecific heat capacity in order to lessen the transfer of heat throughto the wax body, and may in some embodiments include or be associatedwith a conduit formed of a separate heat resistant material (such asglass) surrounding the wick at or near its second end. In suchembodiments, the interposition of the heat resistant conduit between theflame and the insulator avoids or lessens possible heat damage to theinsulator during use of the liquid fuel candle. In some embodiments, theinsulator also includes grooves or channels cut therethrough to permitair to communicate between the outside atmosphere and the liquid fuelreservoir to eliminate possible vapour lock.

In some embodiments, a diffuser ring or tray into which scentedaromatherapy oils or the like may be placed (so as to diffuse into theair) may be affixed to or associated with the insulator. In use, theheat generated by the nearby flame accelerates the evaporation anddispersion of the scented oil.

The wick may be formed of fibreglass fibres or other suitable materials,and in some embodiments may be surrounded by a housing placed into thehollowed core of the wax body. Such wick housing may help preventpossible contamination of the wax body with the liquid fuel, and mayalso help to insulate the wax body from heat generated when the wick islit.

In other embodiments, the liquid fuel candle may comprise more than onewax body, wick and insulator associated with a single base, thereby togive the visual effect of an arrangement of conventional wax candles setupon an elaborate candle holder. In such embodiments, a single reservoirof liquid fuel may be shared among several wax bodies and flames.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational cross-section of a liquid fuel candle inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational cross-section of the liquid fuelcandle of FIG. 1; and, FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of theinsulator of the liquid fuel candle of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, the liquid fuel candle 10 comprises a wax body12 defining a hollowed core 14. The wax body 12 is attached releasablyor permanently to base 16 at one end of the wax body 12, and the base 16is formed and dimensioned to resemble a conventional candle holder. Base16 defines a reservoir 18 within which liquid fuel 20 may be stored, andalso includes a re-sealable filling hole 22 in embodiments (as shown)where the wax body 12 and base 16 are permanently attached to oneanother.

A wick 24 preferably formed of fibreglass fibres is threaded throughhollowed core 14 of wax body 12, and communicates at one end with liquidfuel 20 within base 16. At its second end, wick 24 projects slightlybeyond the top of wax body 12, and is there situated within an insulator26 that prevents wick 24 from contacting the outer surface of wax body12. Housing 28 separates wick 24 from hollow core 14 of wax body 12 inorder to avoid possible contamination of wax body 12 with the liquidfuel 20. In the illustrated embodiment, insulator 26 is constructed of amaterial having a high specific heat capacity in order to lessen thetransfer of heat through to the wax body, and includes glass conduit 30that surrounds wick 24 at or near its second end. The interposition ofconduit 30 between the second end of wick 24 and insulator 26 helps toavoid possible heat damage to insulator 26 when wick 24 is lit, and alsoserves to crimp wick 24 in order to tidy the flame produced when wick 24is lit. Insulator 26 also includes grooves 32 (best seen in FIG. 3) topermit air to communicate between the outside atmosphere and liquid fuelreservoir 18 to eliminate possible vapour lock. Optional annulardiffuser ring 34 into which scented aromatherapy oils or the like may beplaced (so as to diffuse into the air when the liquid fuel candle islit) sits atop insulator 26, and surrounds conduit 30.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of theforegoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible inthe practice of this invention without departing from the spirit orscope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to beconstrued in accordance with the substance defined by the followingclaims.

1. An liquid fuel candle comprising; a wax body having a hollowed core;a base associated with one end of the wax body in communication with thehollow core, the base defining a reservoir for storage of liquid fuel;an insulator associated with the other end of the wax body incommunication with the hollowed core for holding a wick and preventingthe wick from contacting the outer surface of the wax body; and, a wickthreaded through the hollow core of the wax body, the wick communicatingat one end with the liquid fuel within the base, and at the other endwith the insulator.
 2. The liquid fuel candle of claim 1, wherein thebase further comprises a re-sealable aperture for filling of thereservoir with liquid fuel.
 3. The liquid fuel candle of claim 1,wherein the insulator is constructed of a material having a highspecific heat capacity.
 4. The liquid fuel candle of claim 1, wherein aheat resistant conduit is interposed between the wick and the insulator.5. The liquid fuel candle of claim 1, further comprising a diffuserassociated with the insulator for holding scented fluids.